JVC's new D-ILA Device: the Sky's the Limit

When JVC produced the world's smallest 1.27-inch 4K2K Direct-Drive Image Light Amplifier device last June, it was lauded as completely revolutionary. Not willing to rest on its laurels, JVC just announced a 1.75-inch 8K4K D-ILA high-definition reflective liquid crystal device for projectors. According to JVC, this can produce Super Hi-Vision Images with the highest number of pixels currently defined under current international standards as of today for a projection-type display. What do all those numbers mean?

The new 8K4K device has a video display of a whopping 35 megapixels (8192x4320) with the same characteristics as previous D-ILA devices, including high-quality images, high light availability, and high contrast ratios, but with amazing resolution. The device is designed to work with the Super Hi-Vision standard, which could be the next generation broadcast standard. This is 17 times the resolution of Full High-Definition, and 4 times more than the 4K2K digital cinema standard. Personally, I'm waiting for Super Hi-Vision's audio standard to become a reality – who besides me wants 22.2 surround sound? Come on, you know you want it!

Obviously, this development is way ahead of the curve. It's going to be a while before the 20,000:1 device is used in most consumers' homes. However, it's not too far ahead of what's needed and used in digital cinemas, and the most promising future is in medical applications. Don't you want your doctor using the most detailed and advanced image possible when he's operating on your innards? The JVC 1.75-inch 8K4K D-ILA is poised to take on the future of Super Hi-Vision.-Leslie Shapiro